NFL scouts flock to Missouri to observe Drew Lock practice
By Keith Farner
Published:
Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in next year’s NFL Draft.
Several NFL teams are interested in gathering first-hand information on Lock, and they took in practice on Tuesday, according to Alex Schiffer of the Kansas City Star. Though they don’t all have pressing quarterback issues, or presumably top picks, the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys were among those in attendance.
Lock has most commonly drawn comparisons to former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, recently taken in April by the Buffalo Bills at No. 7 overall.
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Lock has prototypical NFL size, but his accuracy is similar to Allen’s coming out of college (56.2 percent). While Lock put up huge numbers last season (44 touchdowns and 3,964 yards) the NFL has also noted his career completion percentage is 54.5 percent.
NFL scouting departments are actively evaluating Lock against the other top quarterback prospects for next spring in West Virginia’s Will Grier and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham.
At the SEC’s Media Days in July, Lock noted how much he has improved reading defenses since he arrived in Columbia as a freshman, something that will be addressed perhaps as much or more so than his touchdowns and passing yards.
Patriots also have a scout here. https://t.co/pXADUwzNdk
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) August 28, 2018
.@MizzouFootball QB Drew Lock (@DrewLock23) talks about the improvement of his football IQ. He’s poised to have another breakout year before it’s off to the #NFL next year. His answers @NFL scouts would love to hear: #SECMD18 pic.twitter.com/ZhytG0ySwg
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) July 18, 2018
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
